Dr. Gjerde earned his B.S. degree in Pre-dental/Biology from the University of California at Irvine in 1972. This is where he met and married his wife, Karen. He went on to pursue his dental education at UCLA, earning his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. He set-up his first private practice in Sacramento after graduation. One year later he started this practice and has been serving the wonderful community of Elk Grove since 1978.